CONFIDENTIAL
request to that effect from the Chief Justice, might meet with
This was because such a procedure would encourage
difficulties.
the Press to expect that trouble was imminent whenever such an
order was made and from this point of view it would be better
if the powers conferred by the Ordinance were permanently
available.
6.
On the face of it this last argument seems open to question.
One would not expect an order to be made until incidents had
occurred and the courts' contempt powers were shown to be
inadequate to deal with the situation. Surely in this situation
it would be plain to all that "trouble" was already at hand? It
seems more than likely that there would already be in force other
measures (e.g. emergency provisions) to indicate to the Press a
deteriorating situation.
Hong Kong Dept. May, 1969